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Day One from Louisville

The first all-breed show of the Kentuckiana Cluster was held yesterday, Thursday, March 14, 2013, at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville. For a Thursday show, the entry of 2,290 was terrific, and a testament to how much exhibitors and fanciers love this cluster. The show included the Otterhound Club of America regional specialty and an American Pomeranian Club specialty, although the National was held on Wednesday. There were 21 additional specialties in conjunction with the Mid-Kentucky KC all-breed, and the Brussels Griffon National was held across the street, at the Crowne Plaza hotel.

Best in Show at the first all-breed show of the Kentuckiana Cluster under judge Edd Bivin was Wire Fox Terrier GCh. AfterAll Painting The Sky. Photos by Krista Droop.

The day’s biggest entries were in Poms (84), Border Collies (68), Goldens (61), Boxers (53), Smooth Fox Terriers (46), Bedlington Terriers (44), French Bulldogs (43) and Pugs (42). One of the two annual roving specialties of the American Fox Terrier Club is during this weekend, so the Smooth entry is great, but only 18 Wires were entered. That is perhaps in part due to two factors: the second AFTC roving is in just a couple of weeks in Sacramento, so many West Coast fanciers are likely waiting for the specialty closer to home, and Wire Fox Terrier Club of the Central States, the place to be for Wires, takes place in May. Many folks can only get away from work for a couple of major events, and for Wire people I’m guessing Central States and Montgomery are the priorities. And there are always fewer Wires than Smooths in any case.

I’m sorry to say that I haven’t yet had a report on the winner of the Griffon National, but the Pom National on Tuesday, judged by Jackie Stacy, had a very interesting result. Best of Breed was awarded to the Winners Dog, from the Phillipines, Canton Jet Li. He is bred and owned by Basilio Yap, and we’re told was only entered the one day. The breed winner today was GCh. Chase What Matters, handled by Noble Inglett for owner Margo Koga, bred by Robert and Celeste Solano. ‘Chase’ was Number 1 Pom and Number 8 Toy last year, and is currently leading in the breed and is Number 6 Toy.

The California-based German Shorthaired Pointer GCh. Dogwdcreek’s La Vita Belle was awarded the weekend’s first Reserve Best in Show.

Louisville has long drawn many of the country’s top dogs to its March cluster. They come from all over America, making for keen competition. In the big ring on day one, America’s current Number 1 dog of all breeds, Wire Fox Terrier GCh. AfterAll Painting The Sky, was the Best in Show winner. This was at least her third Best in Show win under Edd Bivin. ‘Sky’ is, of course, handled by Gabriel Rangel for owners Victor Malzoni, Torie Steele, Diane Ryan, and Scott and Mary Olund. She won the Group under Vincent Grosso.

Reserve BIS was another California-based girl, German Shorthaired Pointer GCh. Dogwdcreek’s La Vita Belle, handled by Valerie Nunes-Atkinson for breeder/owner Lynne Duncan of Ohio. ‘Bella’ is a granddaughter of the Westminster Best in Show-winning ‘Carlee,’ Ch. Kan-Point’s VJK Autumn Roses, whose career was started by Val before she went on to win, among many other awards, Westminster 2005, handled by Michelle Ostermiller, now Scott. Bella is this year’s Number 8 Sporting dog through February.

Judge Walter Sommerfelt’s choice for first in the Sporting Group was German Shorthaired Pointer GCh. Dogwdcreek’s La Vita Belle, handled by Valerie Nunes-Atkinson.

Walter Sommerfelt judged the Sporting Group, and his second place was the current Number 1 English Setter, Number 10 in the Group, GCh. Stargaz’r ‘N Wingfield Time Will Tell, handled by his breeder/owner Eileen Hackett. Third went to Patty and Thaddeus Haines and Peggy Davis’s current Number 1 Pointer, GCh. Oncore Mykyna Storm, the black and white bitch that Patty handled to 10 Group Firsts and a Best in Show last year. Fourth went to Brittany GCh. Copley Paper Dragon, handled by Kellie Miller for owner Ellen Ewart.

In the Hound Group under Dr. Bob Smith, Chris Manelopoulos handled Afghan Hound Am. GCh. Norw. Se. Ch. Tells Matrix Reloaded to the win for owner Missy Galloway. ‘Matrix’ was the National Specialty BIS winner in Sweden before coming to the U.S. His sire, Am. Ch. Elan Sebring The Matrix, was the American National Specialty winner in 2005 and 2006, Number 1 Afghan here in 2006, breeder/owner-handled by Rachel Irvin, and in Sweden in 2008 handled by Camilla Tell, who co-bred Matrix and handled him in Scandinavia.

Dr. Smith’s Group included several of the 2013 top Hounds. Matrix is currently Number 4. Number 6 Hound, Saluki GCh. Sandstorm Blue Nile Bubbles of Jatara, was second, handled by Erin Roberts, while Number 5, Basset Hound Hound GCh. Topsfield-Sanchu Eenie Meenie Miney Moe, was third, handled by Bryan Martin. In fourth was the country’s top Otterhound GCh. Aberdeen’s Under The Influence, handled by his breeder/owner Jason McIlwaine. ‘Dui’ won this regional specialty from an entry of 21.

The Doberman Pinscher bitch GCh. Protocol’s Veni Vidi Vici added another Group First to her record thanks to judge Jim Briley and handler Jocelyn Mullins.

The decisions weren’t any easier in the Working Group for judge Jim Briley. A Doberman Pinscher breeder, Jim gravitated to his own for the Group First, but he’s not the first who has fallen under the spell of ‘Fifi.’ GCh. Protocol’s Veni Vidi Vici is well-known to us all by now as last year’s Number 1 Working dog and Number 3 among all breeds, breeder/owner-handled by Jocelyn Mullins. Second went to the current Number 1 Boxer and Number 5 Working dog, another bitch, GCh. Winfall I Dream of Style, handled by Michael Shepherd, with third to the Number 7 Working dog and yet another bitch, Giant Schnauzer GCh. Kenro’s Witching Hour, handled by Phil and Amy Booth, and fourth to the lone male in the bunch, who is Number 4 in his Group, GCh. Blackhawk Finnegan’s Wake. The Standard Schnauzer is handled by Jody Paquette.

The nation’s current Number 1 dog all-breeds, Wire Fox Terrier GCh. AfterAll Painting The Sky, handled by Gabriel Rangel, was awarded the Terrier Group under judge Vincent Grosso.

Only two of the country’s current Top 10 Terriers were on hand in Louisville, but all the same, the Group was no cake walk. Second went to Kerry Blue Terrier GCh. True Blue Madonna, handled by Leonardo Garcini for owner Elaine Randall, third to Sandy Bethea’s owner-handled Bedlington GCh. Wrightwyn’s Power Play and fourth to Norwich Terrier GCh. Itsy Bitsy Tanglewood Ranger, handled by Sara Krickberg.

Tara Martin Rowell handled Maltese GCh. Scylla’s Small Kraft Re-Lit to another Group First in judge Polly Smith’s Toy Group.

The current Number 1 Toy, Min Pin GCh. Marlex Classic Red Glare, settled for second place under Polly Smith to Number 4 Toy, Maltese GCh. Scylla’s Small Kraft Re-Lit, handled by Tara Martin Rowell, who bred and co-owns him, for owners Debbie Burke and Ron Scott. Third was Pug GCh. Caper’s Sirius Endeavor, currently Number 3 in the Group handled by his owner, Linda Rowell, and fourth went to a dog that’s new to me, Japanese Chin Ch. Desert Jade Fabel-Mi Firedragon, who is owned by James Dalton, John Turjoman and Marsha Bullard. This trio also owns the lovely Number 9 Toy ‘Mimi,’ Chin GCh. Pem We-Syng Lucky Mi, who has been handled to multiple Group and BIS wins by Nancy Martin.

Now we come to the Non-Sporting Group. Jackie Stacy did the honors, and her winner was another of the fairer sex, Boston Terrier bitch GCh. Gunther’s Gussied Up Edna, who is handled by Carlos Puig for breeder/owner Brook Berth. ‘Edna’ won 13 Groups and two BIS last year, and currently leads in her breed. Second was the Number 3 Non-Sporting dog, GCh. Shine’s Deck The Halls, another female, handled by Nina Fetter, and third went to one of the fellows, Tibetan Spaniel GCh. Kan Sing’s Tenzin, handled by Diego Garcia. Fourth was Chow Chow GCh. Padow’s Twilight Embrey In a New Moon at Asans, another dog that is so new to me that I don’t yet know who shows him, but I feel certain we’ll hear more from him.

Belgian Tervuren GCh. Hillside Special and Hamazing was breeder/owner-handled by Bonnie Kreider to a Group win under judge Arley Hussin.

In the Herding Group, Arley Hussin also selected a bitch as his winner, Belgian Tervuren GCh. Hillside Special and Hamazing. ‘Hazy,’ bred and owned by Stan and Bonnie Kreider, is breeder/owner-handled and was the BOB winner at Westminster this year. She’s not yet ranked in the breed through February, but it looks like she soon will be, having won at least two plum awards already this year!

Second in the Group was the Canadian Bouvier, Ch. Stonepillar’s Steel Blu, handled by owner Elaine Paquette. Third went to Puli Ch. Moonshadows Lost In The Ivy, who I believe is owner-handled by Nancy Guagenti. And fourth was Icelandic Sheepdog GCh. Bjarkarkots Hroi Hottur Luke, who is owned by Loren Dribinsky, handled by Doug Belter and was bred in Iceland by Erla Bjork Theodorsdottir. ‘Luke’ was another Westminster Best of Breed winner this year.

From 39 junior handlers, Sadie Hughes was Best Junior from the Open Intermediate class handling her Belgian Tervuren, judged by Amy Booth.

The entry increases today to 2,844, and no doubt the competition will be as exciting as it was on day one. Be sure to check back with us to get all the scoop!

Christi McDonald is a second-generation dog person, raised with a kennel full of Cairn Terriers. After more than a decade as a professional handler’s apprentice and handling professionally on her own, primarily Poodles and Cairns, she landed a fortuitous position in advertising sales with the monthly all-breed magazine ShowSight. This led to an 11-year run at Dogs in Review, where she wore several hats, including advertising sales rep, ad sales manager and, finally, editor for five years. Christi is proud to be part of the editorial team for the cutting-edge Best In Show Daily. She lives in Apex, N.C., with two homebred black Toy Poodles, the last of her Foxfire line, and a Norwich Terrier.